For the last three weeks, 17 News has shown you how narcotics are being dealt in broad daylight at various locations in town. Bakersfield police have been busting drug dealers for decades. We've shown you their undercover tactics and how drug users ransack our town to feed their habits in parts one and two.
Now, the Bakersfield Police Department is asking the community to show courage by taking a stand against drugs.
Busted, arrested and locked up. Do it enough, and you would think it solves the problem.
"The police can go out there and arrest individuals, but the problem is they keep coming back," said Lieutenant Joe Mullins.
He says drug deals have flourished on Union Avenue and Dr. Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard for decades because business owners allow it to happen.
"This is a choice," he said. "It's the choice of those business owners to allow this thing to go on and that's a choice they need to stop making."
Two businesses police say are known for drug activity are the Western Night Inn on Union Avenue and the Annese Market on Dr. MLK Jr. Boulevard.
The manager of the Inn has been arrested, but we visited the market owner armed with surveillance video to get his take on the drug deals we saw happening in front of his store.
Qeid Said says he tries to run people off, but he doesn't want to make trouble either.
"If i say something, he's going to do something to me," said Said.
He says he's an absent business owner from Fresno and the fear of retaliation from gangs and drug dealers is enough for him.
But those who walk these streets everyday are starting to say enough is enough.
"All of Union Avenue is not bad, there's just select places. We just want to get our name back," the the manager of a hotel in Union Avenue.
She didn't want to be identified, but says she runs a tight ship. She doesn't tolerate drugs on her property, but her daughter Melissa Smith says her mother's business is still affected.
"We're close to them and people think if that one has it, then so does this one and we're not like that," she said.
Unlike Said, Smith isn't afraid.
"We're willing to take back our streets," said Smith.
The Bakersfield Police Department is on board, but say they need the community's help.
Mullins says battling drug dealers takes time and tax dollars, but both of those can be saved with the public's help.
"They can't do anything if you're not calling them and letting them know of it," said Smith. "That's the problem. You expect them to just happen to see something. They can't see something if they're not around and we're the people that are around and we witness it everyday. We're the ones that need to communicate with them and let them know what's going on."
Mullins guarantees if you call to report the problem you'll see results.
"There are a few people who have to change their minds - or have it changed for them," said Mullins.
It all comes down to this phone number - 325-4264 or 325-GANG.
If you see gang or drug activity you can report it anonymously by calling the Bakersfield Police Department's Gang Unit at that number.
Part 1 of our special report:
http://www.kget.com/news/local/story/17-News-special-report-Daytime-drug-deals-Part-1/TXmPKhEAHUCLts0SR_IIjQ.cspx
Part 2 of our special report:
http://www.kget.com/news/local/story/17-News-Special-Report-Daytime-Drug-Deals-Part-2/8qXgucOtxE6HQDt_p5RfWw.cspx
